Candlesnuff Fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon)

The Candlesnuff Fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon) is a small, tough, black fungus that grows in tufts of slender, upright clubs, often forked like tiny antlers. Young growth is dusted white or ash-grey by powdery asexual spores, which gives the tips the look of a snuffed candle wick and reaches about 3-5 cm. Later the clubs turn black and rough with tiny pimples, which are the openings of the spore-producing flasks, and are often unbranched. The flesh is white and fibrous.

It is one of our commonest fungi and can be found throughout the UK in every month of the year. It grows on fallen and rotting deciduous wood, such as stumps, logs and branches, and is easy to spot in winter when little else is fruiting.

The most likely confusion is with Xylaria polymorpha and Xylaria longipes, which have thicker, blunter clubs and rarely branch. Xylaria hypoxylon is more slender and distinctly forked, with a pale tip while young. It is tough and not regarded as edible, so it should not be eaten.

Spore Print

Season

J

F

M

A

M

J

A

S

O

N

D

Native

unknown

Distribution

Common everywhere

Habitat

On fallen deciduous wood

Etymology

Xylaria comes from the Greek xylon, meaning wood, and refers to the wood-rotting habit of the genus. The specific epithet hypoxylon combines the Greek hypo (under, or somewhat) with xylon (wood), a name that points to its life on dead wood. The English name describes the pale-tipped, branched clubs, which resemble the burnt wick of a snuffed candle.

Fruiting Body

In the asexual stage it forms slender, branched, antler-like clubs 30-50 mm tall, the tips dusted white with powdery spores. In the sexual state the clubs are black, warted and unbranched. The flesh is white and fibrous.